Craft a Brew vs Pinter: Why Real Brewers Choose Craft a Brew

Oct 18, 2025Kyle Westfall
homebrewing kit with real ingredients

If you’re considering a Pinter beer system, it’s worth asking: is convenience worth sacrificing control, flavor, and learning? In this Craft a Brew vs Pinter comparison, we’ll break down why traditional homebrewing with Craft a Brew kits outshines automated systems like Pinter, and why real brewers keep coming back to hands-on brewing with real ingredients.

TL;DR: If you’re searching for a Craft a Brew review, a Pinter beer kit review, or are wondering how it compares to newer systems, this breakdown highlights why traditional brewing stands out.

  • Craft a Brew delivers hands-on beer brewing kit experience with real malt, hops, and yeast, reusable equipment, and full creative control. 

  • Pinter is a closed, automated system locked into proprietary “Pinter Packs” with limited recipes.

  • For taste, ingredient quality, and learning the craft of beer, Craft a Brew wins every time.


Craft a Brew vs Pinter: A Beer Brewing Kit Comparison

1. Brewing Process

Craft a Brew:

  • Engages you in traditional beer brewing with steeping, boiling, and fermentation.

  • Uses real ingredients: malt extract, grains, hops, and yeast.

  • A traditional beer brewing kit for hobbyists wanting to understand the craft.

  • Clear, beginner-friendly instructions — no app required.

  • 30+ prebuilt beer recipes, all fully customizable: change the yeast strain, add fruit or lactose, or try a dry hop addition.

Pinter:

  • Automated Pinter brewing system with minimal user involvement.

  • Uses pre-packaged “Pinter Packs” like a brewing pod, limiting options.

  • Brewing is app-controlled, leaving little opportunity to learn or experiment.

✅ Craft a Brew gives you real brewing with real ingredients. Pinter prioritizes convenience, not education.


2. Ingredients: Real vs. Proprietary

Craft a Brew:

  • Each craft beer brewing kit includes fresh malt extract, grains, hops, and brewing yeast for authentic beer – a homebrewing kit with real ingredients.

  • 30+ beer styles available, from Hefeweizen to New England IPA or Kettle Sour.

  • Freedom to tweak or upgrade ingredients — experiment with yeast, adjuncts, or specialty grains.

  • The highest Craft a Brew ingredient quality – nitrogen-flushed hops and premium mats preserve peak flavor.

Pinter:

  • Limited to proprietary beer refills.

  • No flexibility to substitute or customize ingredients.

✅ With Craft a Brew, you’re the brewmaster. With Pinter, you’re pressing “start.”


3. Equipment Ownership

Craft a Brew:

  • Reusable fermentation equipment compatible with all Craft a Brew kits and other homebrew recipes.

  • Compatible with advanced tools as you grow your hobby.

Pinter:

  • Locked into a single brewing unit.

  • All brews must run through the Pinter ecosystem.

✅ Craft a Brew sets you up for long-term brewing. Pinter limits you to their system.


4. Flavor & Volume

Feature

Craft a Brew

Pinter

Ingredient Quality

Real malt, hops, yeast

Proprietary beer packs

Flavor Complexity

Bold, fresh, true-to-style

Mild, consistent, less depth

Batch Volume

1 gallon (~10 bottles of beers)

1.25 gallons (~10 pints)

✅ So, which homebrew kit makes better beer? Craft a Brew’s beer tastes like it came from a local brewery — because it practically did.


5. Learning the Craft

This is more than just a craft beer kit vs automated brewing system debate — it’s about learning, flavor, and freedom. How much do you want to learn about brewing techniques and ingredients? Do you want to get hands on or leave the brewing to a machine?

Craft a Brew:

  • Every beginner beer brewing kit is a lesson in beer science. You’re actually learning the art of homebrewing, the role that each ingredient plays and how to customize the beer.

  • Ideal for anyone interested in home fermentation, flavor experimentation, brewing techniques, or ingredient exploration.

Pinter:

  • Designed for quick results.

  • No real learning curve — you’re following app prompts.

✅ Want to actually learn how beer is made? Craft a Brew is the educational and enjoyable option.


6. Cost Over Time

Brand

Starter Kit

Refill Kits

Ongoing Cost

Brewing Flexibility

Craft a Brew

~$50

~$15–$25

Low

High

Pinter

~$100–$150

~$20–$33

Higher

Low (only Pinter Packs)

✅ Craft a Brew offers better value and long-term savings with a wider selection of refill options and reusable gear for brewers who want to build their own recipes.


Final Verdict: Go With the Brand That Actually Brews

Is Pinter good for brewing beer? If you just want to push a button and drink beer, Pinter might get you there — but you’ll miss the fun and flavor of doing it yourself.

If you're looking for a hands-on brewing experience with real brewing vs brewing pods,, Craft a Brew is the kit for you.  Why choose Craft a Brew:

Other automated machines like PicoBrew, Brewie, and BeerMKR have come and gone. While they promise convenience, they often lock brewers into proprietary packs at high cost and low flexibility. Craft a Brew is consistently chosen as one of the best home beer brewing kits because it teaches the craft, lets you experiment, and gives you real skills for any future batch — no pods required.

  • ✅ Real brewing ingredients (malt, hops, yeast)

  • ✅ Complete control over flavor and beer style

  • ✅ Reusable, industry-standard equipment – no locked-in system

  • ✅ 30+ beer styles and recipe kits that can be customized to your taste

  • ✅ Affordable, scalable, and hobbyist-approved


Try a Craft a Brew Kit Today:

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